I’m looking for a mentor and I’m not sure how to find one.

Gilliane McShane

July 20,2022 at 3:02PM UTC

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I’m looking for a mentor and I’m not sure how to find one. I recently pivoted in my career from being a program manager for a global health organization to a technical writer/editor in the same field. I’ve joined a small communications team, and I’m the only one with any real writing/editing experience (supervisor included). I’m working on a complex project and dealing with some difficult personalities (who don’t like their work edited), so I’m looking for some mentorship to guide me in this challenging environment. Additionally, I would benefit from mentorship in general to build my confidence as I work to establish myself in this field.

Are there any recommendations for how I should go about finding a mentor? I feel very isolated and lost, and the few contacts I have in my network for editing/writing seem like dead ends. I saw in previous posts the recommendation for mentorship apps—does anyone have experience with those? Any that you’d recommend?

Thanks!

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AnonymousJuly 20,2022 at 3:31PM UTC
A career coach is a nice way to get that one on one guidance.
If your company doesn't have a mentorship program established, then I would join an industry group and find one through those connections.
Gilliane McShaneJuly 20,2022 at 7:16PM UTC
Yes, the industry groups seems to be a common theme. Thanks so much!
AnonymousJuly 20,2022 at 4:56PM UTC
Fairygodboss has an official mentor/mentee group. I'm not part of it, so I can't give information about how it works; but since you already feel at least kind of comfortable posting here it could be a good place to start.
I linked it below. In case that doesn't work I went to Resources -> Groups and then did a search for mentor and it was the first one to pop up.
Good luck! :)
https://fairygodboss.com/groups/H1DQ3eIrS/fairygodboss-official-mentors-mentees-group
Gilliane McShaneJuly 20,2022 at 7:14PM UTC
I had no idea--thank you!
Barb HansenJuly 20,2022 at 5:01PM UTC
Random suggestions:
Search Meetup to find a local technical writing or a PR/communications groups and attend those meetings. I'm sure you'll find senior people in one of those groups that are able to help you.
Find a technical writer association and see if they have an online message board or formal mentorship program.
-I've never formally worked as a tech writer but I did technical writing for the laboratory I worked for years ago. I joined the technical writers association (I can't remember which one) so I could get access to their resources.
Good luck!
Gilliane McShaneJuly 20,2022 at 7:14PM UTC
Thank you--these are great suggestions. I had not even thought of Meetup!
Jill L. FergusonJuly 20,2022 at 5:33PM UTC
You could find a mentor in a number of ways: you could approach someone whose work you admire and ask if they would be willing to mentor you, you could join a group (professional organization, an association, or even a LinkedIn or FB group) that specializes in what you want to do, or you could hire a professional coach who specializes in working with writers or people who work in health organizations.
Gilliane McShaneJuly 20,2022 at 7:13PM UTC
Thank you! I will look into the professional groups!
AnonymousJuly 20,2022 at 9:04PM UTC
I would first assess are the difficult personalities taking a way from you feeling effective and productive at work? If so, it is good to have that conversation with yourself, evaluate the environment and start planning your next move. Start looking up tech writer jobs on usajobs.gov almost every agency needs them and many people who start out as tech writers who want to branch off to leadership, do so based on the additional skills they acquire in the respective office/agency they work in.
As far as seeking mentors. Go on linked in and look up folks that either are in the same profession, or have the profession that is along your planned career track. Start a dialogue, introduce your self. Keep it light initially, asking them to give you more insight on what they do and build a genuine rapport from there. They might put in a good word for you on future interviews and help you with your application package down the road. The first step is reaching out. The answer is always no until you start that initial communication. Don't be discouraged because almost everyone at some point of their career deal with difficult people. Sometimes it is a wake up call to evaluate your environment and determine whether staying there is worth your time, energy and most importantly peace.
AnonymousJuly 21,2022 at 12:21PM UTC
Hi, PMP here, executive consultant, and copywriter.
As a former Program Manager and current manager of writing projects, have you consulted PMI.org to see what resources and webinars they may have available to handle challenging personalities in a situation where you have responsibility for outcomes but your authority is only implied? Did you do a kick-off of the project with the team to lay out the rules of engagement and what to expect? (Structure a process and get your supervisor's buy-in.) Just some thoughts about addressing the technical aspect of the role. Organization and setting expectations allows you to control of the process and is a backstop for confidence. You can point to the structure of "how things are done" and make it less about personalities and more about priorities. People usually fall in line with that once they know that management is on board and "that's the way we do things now."
Also, a mentor would be helpful, but you might need more than one, no matter where you find them. What, exactly do you want from the mentoring experience? Is it informal with organic discussions? Or does it have formal exercises and topics for exploration? Do you want them to help you set goals, turn them into tactics, and hold you accountable to taking action? Or gentle suggestions? How often do your meetings happen? Is an online mentor ok? Must they be in the same field? What kind of job title/experience do they have? Someone might be great at helping with navigating the work waters, but not be skilled at confidence-building. It's ok to have more than one.
Good luck!
Kathleen LeCheleJuly 21,2022 at 10:31PM UTC
Maybe you can create a group right here in FGB that mirrors what you do and use that network to bounce ideas off of get and give advice and the like.
but to answer your question, find someone who you admire and trust and ask. The worst thing that could happen is that you are told No.
YGT! ( you got this)
Gilliane McShaneSeptember 27,2022 at 1:26AM UTC
Hi Kathleen,
Sorry I never acknowledged this and I'm so late in responding, but this is such a great suggestion about creating a group on here. I didn't know I could do that, so will look into it.
Thanks so much!
F RJuly 22,2022 at 12:57PM UTC
Maybe check out the Society for Technical Communication? Looks like they have a mentor/mentee board that may help you find some connections.
https://www.stc.org/membership/mentor-board/
Gilliane McShaneSeptember 27,2022 at 1:28AM UTC
Hi Faye,
Sorry I never acknowledged your suggestion and am late in responding, but thank you for this suggestion! I was just at a virtual conference, and someone made the same suggestion, so I'm going to check it out.
Thanks so much!